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Notes: Greer to join Rangers greats

Notes: Greer to join Rangers greats

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By T.R. Sullivan
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MLB.com |

ARLINGTON -- Rusty Greer is ready to take his official place among Rangers immortals.

Greer is expected to be in the 2007 class for the Rangers Hall of Fame when the official announcement is made on Thursday before their game with the Chicago Cubs. The actual induction will be on Aug. 11, before the Rangers' game with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Greer, one of the most popular players in club history, played for the Rangers from 1994-2002 before a series of injuries brought an end to his career. He didn't officially retire until Spring Training in 2005.

A 10th-round pick out of the University of Montevallo (Ala.), Greer was called up to the Rangers in May 1994, and was their Rookie of the Year that season after hitting .314 with 10 home runs and 46 RBIs in 80 games in 277 at-bats.

His most memorable moment was a diving catch in the ninth inning to save Kenny Rogers' perfect game.

Greer was at his best in 1996-1999, when he played left field on three division championship teams. He hit .300 or better in all four seasons, plus three seasons of over 100 runs scored and three seasons of at least 100 RBIs.

McCarthy to test blister: Brandon McCarthy is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Thursday and test the blister on his right middle finger. McCarthy has played catch without problem, but throwing off the mound in the bullpen will be a bigger test.

"We'll see from there," McCarthy said. "I've played catch and it was fine, but we need to test it out and see if we can get it going."

McCarthy is 3-0 with a 3.26 ERA in his last six starts but has made just one start since May 25, because of the blister. He is on the disabled list and is expected to make at least one medical rehab start before he returns to the rotation.

"It's really frustrating," manager Ron Washington said. "Everybody wants pitching, and he was one of our better pitchers. But it's like anything else. When one goes down, somebody else has to step up."

Eyre brothers: The Cubs-Rangers series marks the second time that Willie and Scott Eyre, a pitcher for Chicago, have been on opposite sides of a Major League field. It happened last year in Interleague Play when Willie was with the Twins. Both are relievers, but they have never pitched in the same game.

"It would be fun if I could pitch the top half of an inning and he pitched in the bottom half," Willie Eyre said. "I'd definitely try to get that lineup card. My mom might have a hard time with it."

Willie, six years younger, is only in his second year in the Major Leagues. Scott has been pitching in the Majors since 1997, and has had a big impact on his brother's career.

"There were some times in the Minor Leagues when I was down," Willie said. "I was pitching bad, away from my family and I'd give him a call. He'd settle me down. He has been a father figure, someone to look up to. He means everything to me."

Rogers sighting: The Rangers are expected to face Rogers during their four-game series with the Detroit Tigers next Wednesday at Comerica Park. Rogers has been on the disabled list all season but is expected to be activated Friday night to pitch against the Atlanta Braves. That would put him in line to face the Rangers.

The Tigers are also listing Jeremy Bonderman on Tuesday and Justin Verlander on Thursday.

Hurley promoted: The Rangers are promoting Double-A pitcher Eric Hurley to Triple-A Oklahoma. Hurley was 7-2 with a 3.25 ERA in 15 games, including 14 starts, for Frisco and is the Rangers' top pitching prospect.

He said it: "As far as wins and losses are concerned, it's unacceptable. I don't want to rebuild, I want to fix it immediately. Winning is my concern. I know it's not going to be easy, but that's what we all signed up to do." -- Shortstop Michael Young

Tuesday's Minor Stars:

Gold: Class A Bakersfield third baseman Chris Davis hit a home run for California in a 10-5 victory over Carolina in the California-Carolina All-Star Game.

Silver: Double-A Frisco outfielder Steve Murphy extended his hitting streak to 16 games with a single against Midland. He is hitting .456 during the streak.

Bronze: Clinton's Jose Vallejo and John Whittleman were both 1-for-2 in the Midwest League All-Star Game.

Briefly: The Rangers are pushing Jamey Wright back one day so Kevin Millwood can pitch on his normal four days' rest. Millwood goes Friday against the Astros and Wright goes Saturday. Wright pitched before Millwood in Cincinnati. ... The Rangers have a day game on Thursday after a night game, but Washington said he expects Sammy Sosa to still start at DH.

Up next: Right-hander Vicente Padilla pitches against Cubs left-hander Ted Lilly in the finale of a three-game series at 1:05 p.m. CT on Thursday at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

T.R. Sullivan is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.